Citation

Arch BN, Thurston MN. J. Public Health (Oxford) 2013; 35(2): 200-205.

Affiliation

The Vicarage, School Lane, Marton, Macclesfield, UK.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Oxford University Press)

DOI

10.1093/pubmed/fds068

PMID

22915771

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Deaths and injuries related to fires are largely preventable events. In the UK, a plethora of community-based fire safety initiatives have been introduced over the last 25 years, often led by fire and rescue services, to address this issue. This paper focuses on one such initiative-home safety assessments (HSAs). Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service (in England) implemented a uniquely large-scale HSA intervention. This paper assesses its effectiveness. METHODS: The impact of HSAs was assessed in relation to three outcomes: accidental dwelling fires (ADFs), ADFs contained and injuries arising from ADFs. A two-period comparison in fire-related rates of incidences in Cheshire between 2002 and 2011 was implemented, using Poisson regression and adjusting for the national temporal trend using a control group comprising the 37 other English non-metropolitan fire-services. RESULTS: Significant reductions were observed in rates of ADFs [incidence rate ratios (IRR): 0.79, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.74-0.83, P < 0.001, 2002/03-2007/08 versus 2008/09-2010/11] and associated injuries (IRR: 0.49, 95% CI: 0.39-0.60, P < 0.001, 2002/03-2006/07 versus 2007/08-2010/11), but not in the proportion of fires contained to room of origin. CONCLUSIONS: There is strong evidence to suggest that the intervention was successful in reducing domestic fires and related injuries.

Language: en